Stapling machine with removable flap lifter blade



Oct. 2, 1956 w. scHAFRoTH 2,764,758

STAPLING MACHINE WITH REMOVABLE FLAP LIFTER BLADE Filed Dec. 10, 1953 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl GLI.

Oct. 2, 1956 w. SCHAFROTH STAPLING MACHINE WITH REMOVABLE FLAP LIFTERBLADE I5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 10. 1953 FIGD z 242 za W. SCHAF'ROTHoct. z, 195e STAPLING MACHINE WITH REMOVABLE FLAP LIFTER BLADE 3Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. l0, 1953 United States Patent STAPLING MACHINEWITH REMOVABL' FLP LIFTER BLADE This invention relates to staplingmachines in gener-al, and particularly to those of the type which areused' to su'iiioiently hard enough to effect driving a staple throughtwo thicknesses of material.

secure the flaps or ends of closed cartons or containers wherestationary anvils cannot be used andwhere movable anvils are used forpenetrating the material and clinching the staples. The invention alsorelates to a stapling machine having a movable anvil for penetratingthebox material and means therebelow for holdingr'a subjacent iiap or pieceof material against the outer piece of mate rial so that said anvilypierces two thicknesses of material which are to be secured together bystaples.

This invention represents a practical improvement over Y the staplingmachines shown in Schafroth patents, No: n

2,080,634 dated May 1S, 1937; No. 2,234,808 dated March 4,. 194.1.; No..2,l 469,054 and No. 2,469,055v dated: Mal 3,1949; and No. 2,470,727dated May 17, 1949. This invention. represents an improvement over.and`= contains subject. matter in common` with my copending; applica.-

tion, Serial. No. 340,443 filed March 52, 1,953r entitled StaplingMaclztinel7 This` invention also represents. a practical improvementinuthemagazine Whichfeedsstaples one after the. other tot the stapledriving and clinching vmeans. v

Stapling, machines of thev typer described'. in my copend'- ingapplication', Serial No. 340,443, are used for: packing all; sorts ofitems which may or may' not lli theA entire box. These items includemanufacturedgoods'of all'sorts,

meat, liowers, perishables, fragile items,. etc.

Suchfperishablesas lettuce, oranges, etc.',arei now being packedtinhalf-slottedpaperboard boxes insteadxof` wooden boxes; In order totclose theseihalf-slotted paperboard boxes, which: are being; used inincreasing. numbers by l thee industry,. a staplev must be driventhrough the outside layer of material and then: through a subjacent`layer, which; usually an end4 cover hapwhi'ch is turned. in wardlybefore; the: side cover iaps,` before; said'l staple-isclinchedintoholding position. Good resultsareiobtained A' when, the.paperboardy boxes arey fully packed; an'd are in ai dny'state so thattheinner flapsf contact thel contents of:l the box and the outer apslie. directly against said inner ilaps.

However', it frequently happens that.' these' boxesl are packedf in thefield' while; it' is'dampr or raining, and in additiom. the productsbeing packed', especially lettuce, might be Wetf and' add furthermoisture tolthe paperboard box-f. In. addition, the products are not ofuniform size as in the casey of manufactured articles with the resultthatit' frequently becomes necessary to close boxesiwhich are' extremelyWet or which are vnot completely-- filled,

or both. In` either case, the inner flaps ofsai'dvlboxes 'tendto` sag orfall' away from the outer material tol which ith'eyjare toK bef securedby staples; When this happens,

a staple penetrates onlyjone thickness of material and the subj'acventap's are not secured to the outer panels'. When this happens, anoperatorusually' presses thel stapling lmachine against' the' box withgreat' pressure, sometimes damaging the contentsg'butwith little chance'ofpressing One ofthe principal objects of the present invention is toprovide animproved stapling machine and one which is provided witha haplifting lblade for holding a wet or sagging inner ap upwardly againstthe inner surface of an outside ap so that a staple can be driventhrough both thicknesses of material and then clinched. Another objectis to pr-ovide means which insure that two ilaps will be maintained injuxtaposed position during a stapling operation performed by a machinehaving piercinganvils, whichmeans can be removed if desired whenstapling under ideal conditions. Y

Another' object is to provide a new' and improved maga'- zine forfeeding staples to the driving means, said magazine' not requiring aseparate hold-down bar over said staples. Another object is to provideimproved means lat the poin't Where the staples pass/from the magazineto repair andreplacernent part-s, and which is) positive .acting at alltimes;

These and other objects and advantageswill become apparent hereinafter.

The invention is embodiedin a 'stapling machine .of the' piercing andretractable anvil type having a flap lifting. blade therebelow forholding an inner hap' of a box against the inner surface of an outer a'pvor member during a stapling operation'. L The inventionalso consistsinthe parts and in the ar rangement and combination of parts' hereindescribedand claimed. ,In the accompanying drawings,k which' form partof'k this specification and wherein like numerals'. refer to like' partswherever they occur: v n

"Fig; l is a Yside elevational view of a. staplingl machine vembodyingthe present invention, the ap lifting blade being attached and thehandles being in their raised position, s aid machine shown about topierce the upper portionfof the end Wall of a` box' so that theaplifting-blade lwill hold the inner ilap of said box in proper positionfor theY stapling operation,

Fig. 2 is' a bottom view of. the machine shown in Fig. l,

Fig.V 3 is a front view thereof,

Fig. 4 is an elevational View ofthe rear `face of the yfront housingafter said front housing has been removed from the stapling machine,said. handle members being shown in their operative position, n

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the front face of the rearfhousing.after the front housing has been removed, Fig.V 6 is .a vertical crosssectional view taken along the line 6-6 lof Fig. 1,

having a; single score along thetop margin .of the lside and; end walls,and

Fig. l2 is a perspective view of another type of cardboard box used forpacking perishables, said box being provided with a double score toprovide for slight adjustment in the volumetric capacity of said box. l

Referring now to the drawings in detail, it will be seen that theembodiment of the invention which has 'been illustrated comprises anupstanding casing 1 having sloping side edges 2, although said casingmay be of any suitable shape, and a magazine 3 which extends rearwardlyof said casing 1 and automatically feeds staples 4 to said casing 1.

The casing 1 comprises a front housing 5 and a rear housing 6 withstapling means 7 therebetween. The front housing is provided with sideanges 8, a spacer member 9 in the upper portion thereof, side .members9a, a lower marginal spacer member 10, a central guide pin 11, and twohandle pins 12 and 13. The-handle pins 12 and 13 provide a pivotallmounting for the handles 14 and l15jwhich are of U-shaped cross-sectionhaving handle inserts 16 and 17 in the lower portions thereof. Thehandle inserts 16 and 17 are held in position by means of insert pins 18and 19 and the handle pins 12` and 13. Anvils 20 and 21 are secured tosaid handles 14 and (15 by means of anvil screws 22 and 23 and anvilpins 24 and 25. The anvils 20 and 21 are provided with piercing ends 26and 27 and inner or clinching surfaces 28 and 29.

A driving blade 30 is provided in the plane of and between said anvils20 and 21 and is adapted to move vertically upon operation of saidhandles 14 and 15. The driving blade 30 is provided with a lverticalslot 30a into which the guide pin 11 extends. The upper portion of saiddriving blade 30 is secured to a yoke 31 having bifurcated laterallyextending ends 32 and 33 which h'old yoke pins 34 and 35 on which links36 and 37 are pivotal- 1y mounted. The lower ends of the links 36 and 37are pivotally mounted in said handles 14 and 15 on lower link pins 38and 39 at a point upwardly from said handle pins 12 and 13 andsubstantially on a line between said anvils 20 vand 21 and said yokepins 34 and 35 when the parts are in their operating position. The links36 and 37 are provided with spring pins 40 and 41 which hold a coilspring 42.

63 has a bottom 66 and two upstanding sides 67, each provided with aledge or projection 68 thereby dividing the U-shaped outer channel 63into a relatively wide lower portion 69 and a narrower upper portion 70.No hold-down bar or other means over said staples is required if flanges59 and 60 are provided to keep the staples in proper orientation priorto their passing through the U-shaped opening 51.

A pusher 71 is slidably mounted in said magazine 3 and comprises a topportion 72 having a pusher handle 73 thereon and two downwardlyextending sides 74, each having a projection 75 thereon which fitsbeneath the ledge 68 of said outer channel 63. The pusher 71 has a tab76 extending downwardly for receiving one end of a feed rubber band 77,the opposite end of which is held in position by a pin 78 secured to therear portion of the inner channel 64. A roller 79 is rotatably mountedin the forward portion of said inner channel 64 about which said rubberband 77 is rebent. Holes 80 are provided in the inner channel member 64for initially receiving said roller 79.

A reinforcing plate 82 is provided adjacent to the bottoms of the innerand outer channel members which are provided with threaded holes 83 forreceiving a flap from a piercer 85 at the forward end thereof by a pairThe upper ends `of the handles 14 and 15 are provided with ball handles-or knobs 43 secured thereto by means of a handle insert 44 having athreaded knob screw 45, said insert 44 being held in position within theU-shaped handles 14 and 15 by handle pins 46.

The rear housing 6 is provided with side flanges 47, holes 48 iu thelower portion thereof, two parallel upstanding guides 49 and 50 forguiding the driving blade 30 during its vertical upward and downwardmovement, and a U-shaped opening 51 corresponding in shape to thestaples 4 which are received from the magazine 3. As shown in Fig. 5,the guides 49 and 50 are secured to the front face 53 of said rearhousing 6 by means of guide pins 54. The rear face 55 of the rearhousing 6, as best shown in Fig. 6, is provided with flangedstrengthening members 56 of suitable shape with a staple guide 57therebetween. The staple guide 57 is provided with side flanges 58, tworearwardly and slightly upwardly extending lower anges 59 and aforwardlyextending flange 60. The strengthening members 56 are suitablysecured to the rear face 55 to which are also secured rear braces 61.Three removable screws 62 hold the front housing 5 and the rear housing6 together with the hereinbefore described stapling parts therebetween.To remove the front housing S from the rear housing 6, only the threescrews 62 need be removed.

l The magazine 3 comprises a U-shaped outer channel 63 having an innerchannel 64 secured therein in parallel relation thereto, said innerchannel 64 having an open forward portion which is closed by a wearplate 65 positioned in the plane of the rear housing 6 and ush with thefront face 53. The U-shaped outer channel of slots 86 with a neckportion 87 therebetween thereby forming a portion of reduced Width inthe blade B. The slots 86 are positioned to receive the anvils 20 and 21when said anvils are in their clinching position. The piercer isprovided with a point S8 and two angularly positioned edges 89 havingbevels 90 thereabove. Bevels 91 are-also provided on the rear of saidpiercer 85 and on the front of said body 84. The body 84 is providedwith two securing means 92 each comprising a bolt 93, a spacer 94, and aretaining ring 95 to prevent said spacer 94 from falling from said bolt93 when said blade B is removed from the staple machine. The spacers 94may be of any desired length, but are preferably slightly greater inlength than two thicknesses of the material which is to be stapled, asbest shown in Fig. l, wherein a fragmentary portion of a box is shown,said box having an end wall 96, an inner ap 97, and an outer flap 98.

The piercer 85 extends forwardly' of the plane of the handles 14 and 15,and the front housing 5 is therefore provided with a nose 99 and aninner nose 100 which protect the operator from accidentally injuringhimself with the sharp piercer 85 when the machine is not in operation,and which act as guides and holders when the machine is being used tostaple aps together.

In order to operate the stapling machine, staples 4 are first insertedinto the magazine 3 by moving the pusher 75 to the extreme rear of themagazine 3 against the action of the rubber band 79. The projections 75on the sides 7`4 of the pusher 71 prevent the pusher from tilting orlifting upwardly since said projections 75 abut against the ledges 68 onthe outer channel 63.

With the stapling machine loaded, it may be used either with or withoutthe removably secured ap lifter blade B. When used without said blade B,the stapling machine is placed over the carton or container to befastened by grasping the ball handles 43 with both hands which are 'thenforced outwardly and downwardly. This forces the handles 14 and 15outwardly and downwardly thereby causing said driving blade 30 to movedownwardly and drive a staple 4 through the material and causing thepiercing ends 26 and 27 of the anvils 20 and 21 to pierce the material.Continued movement of the handles causes the clinching surfaces 28 and29 of the anvils 20 and 21 to engage the lower ends of the staple 4 andbend them into the fastening position shown in the Fig. 4. Inparticular, as the handles 14 and 15 are pivoted about their respectivehandle pins 12 and 13, the lower link pins ave-4375's 11S-and' 39 moveoutwardly and downwardly thereby causing. the yoke 31 and 'the drivingblade 30 to move downwardly. The driving blade 30, is guided by theguides 49- and 50 and contacts the upper surface of a staple 4 which.has been forced through the openingv 51 in said rear housing 6 b-ythe'pusher 71. Continued movement of the handles 14 and 15 causes saiddriving blade. 30- to force the. staple 4 through the single. or `doublethickness of material and causes the ends of the anvils 20 and 21 topierce the material and then rebend the ends of the staple 4. Thehandles 147 and- 15 are then brought together with the helpof the coilspring 42 thereby retracting the anvils from` the material, and movingthe driving blade 30 upwardly thereby uncovering the opening 51 andallowing: the pusher '71 to feed another staple. 4 through the opening51. The next stapling operation is performed in the sante manner byplacing the stapling machine over the` material-to be fastened andpushing the handles 14 and 1'5 outwardly and' downwardly therebyautomatically holding the stapling machine in position throughout thestapling operation.

I-n theinoperative position, the' upward movement of the handles 14 and15 is limited. when the inner edges of said handles abut against. the`bifurcated ends 32 and 33 of said yoke 31. In the operative position,as shown in Fig. 4, lthe downward movement is limited by the materialand the staple in most instances and by` the" rearwardly'extendingportions of the lower link pins 38= and 39 abutting against the slopingedges ofthe lower spacer member in the remaining instances.

With this construction, the slightest movement of the handles 14 and 15causes an instantaneous and positive movement of the anvils 2i) and 21with great mechanical advantage regardless of whether the parts are newor worn. The anvils 20 and 21 are so 'shaped and positioned on thehandles 14 and 1S that they first pierce the material by movingsubstantially downwardly and then move toward each other thereby bendingor clinching the end portions of the staples and producing the smallestpuncture possible in the material, while the driving blade 30 issimultaneously moving downwardly. Because of the relative positions ofthe hands of the operator with respect to the anvils and handles, thedriving blade, and the links, the operator directly and positivelycauses said anvils to pierce the material and bend the ends of thestaple with great mechanical advantage while at the same timeautomatically causing said machine to remain in the proper position withrespect to the material to be fastened.

When stapling boxes of perishables in the field under circumstanceswhere the boxes are wet or are not fully packed with the result that theinner flaps of the boxes sag, it is desirable to attach the flap lifterblade B. This is done merely by screwing the bolts 93 into the threadedholes 83 in the bottom of the magazine 3.

The staple machine can then be used as best shown in Figs. ll and l2wherein two types of boxes normally used for packing perishables areshown. Fig. l1 show a half slotted carton 161 having side walls 102 withouter cover flaps 103 thereon and end walls 104 with inner cover flaps165 thereon. The right portion of said carton has been stapled, leavinga slot 106 formed by the blade B which was inserted to keep the innercover iiap 105 upwardly against the outer cover flaps 103. The staplemachine is shown in Fig. 1l with the blade B thereof about ready topierce the upper portion of the end wall not shown to keep the leftinner cover flap 105 upwardly in the position shown during the staplingoperation. Obviously, this machine can be used to staple full slottedcartons or any other types of paperboard or ibreboard cartons.

Fig, l2 shows another type of carton commonly used. This carton 107 hasend walls 108 with inner cover aps 169 foldably connected thereto -bymeans of scores 110, said inner cover aps 109 having a second score 111parallel to and spaced about one inch from said score 110.

6 The. side walls 112 have outer cover aps 113 foldably connectedthereto -by means of a score 114, said outerV flaps 113 having a secondscore 115 parallel to and spaced about one inch from said score 114.lTheppurpose of the second scores 111 and 115 is4 to provide forvolumetric adjustment of the carton to accommodate perishables whichvary in size. In Fig. l2, the machine is shown with the forward portionof the blade B under one outer cover flap 113 and one inner cover flap109 while the rear portion of said blade B extendsy over the oppositeouter cover nagv 113. In this. position, a diagonal row of staples canbe driven between the inner Aand outer cover flaps thereby securelyclosing said container.

The blade B can be used only in combination with a staple machine lwhichhas a movable anvil which is capable of closing a carton or box from thetop. The ordinary hinged type anvil present on most staple machines isunsuitable for present purposes since the anviltherein must be properlyaligned at all times to receive and clinch the staples and since such ananvil cannot be inserted beneath the inner flaps of a closed carton.

Figs. 9 and 1.() show a modified means for removably securing the aplifting blade B to the stapling machine, saidV means comprising asuitable bayonet type joint. With such means, the blade B is providedwith two studs1 116 each having a headk117 thereon which retains spacers118 on the studs 116 when the blade B is notV attached. Referringl to.Fig. 9`, the bottom of the inner channel member 64 is provided with alocking spring y119 secured theretol by a rivet 120. The 'holes 83a insaid channel members have enlarged forward portions 121 adapted toreceive the heads 117 of the studs 116 and elongated rear portions 122into which said studs 116 can be pushed to secure said blade B to thestapling machine. T-he heads 117 are maintained in their rearmostposition by the locking spring 119, which is raised initially when theheads 117 are inserted through the enlarged portions 121. Fig. 9 showsthe blade B after it has pierced the end wall 96 of a carton so astohold an inner flap 97 upwardly against an outer flap 98 to which it willbe stapled. Obviously, other modiiied means can be used if desired toremovably secure the blade B to the stapling machine.

This invention is intended to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of the invention herein chosen for purposes of the disclosure,which do not constitute departures from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

What I claim is:

l. A stapling machine having retractable anvils therein for staplingclosed containers having outer and inner panels with staples, and meansremovably secured beneath said stapling machine for piercing a containerwall and maintaining said outer and inner panels in juxtaposed rel-ationduring a stapling operation, said means being adapted'to pierce anangularly positioned panel to maintain said outer and inner panels injuxtaposed relation, said means being free from contact by said staplesand anvils.

2. A stapling machine for clinching a staple from the same side fromwhich it is driven for stapling containers having outer and inner panelswhich have been folded into closed position, said stapling machinehaving a casing with retractable anvils therein and rearwardly extendingmeans for feeding staples to said casing, and longitudinal means securedbeneath said rearwardly extending means in spaced relation thereto formaintaining said outer and inner flaps in juxtaposed relation during astapling operation, said longitudinal means being free from contact bysaid staples and anvils.

3. A stapling machine for clinching a staple from the same side fromwhich it is driven, said stapling machine comprising a casing, anvilsretractably mounted in said machine and positioned to extend downwardlybeyond said casing when said stapling machine is actuated to drive astaple, 'and a blade removably secured to said machine, said blademounted below said casing in spaced relation thereto for maintaining theinner flap of a box in a lifted position during a stapling operation,said blade being free from ycontact by said anvils and staple.

4. A stapling machine for clinching a staple from the same side fromwhich it is driven, said stapling machine comprising a casing havingretractable anvils therein, said anvils extending downwardly beyond saidcasing when said stapling machine is actuated to drive a staple, saidcasing having means extending rearwardly therefrom, a ap lifting bladeattached to said means in spaced parallel relation thereto, said bladehaving a piercer 'at the forward end and a body portion rearwardlythereof, said body portion being secured at the rear thereof to saidmeans and being free from Contact by said anvils and staple.

5. A stapling machine for clinching a staple from the same side fromwhich it is driven, said stapling machine comprising a casing and meansextending rearwardly therefrom, said casing having retractable anvilstherein which extend beyond said casing when said machine is actuated,and a ap lifting blade secured to said rearwardly extending means inspaced parallel relation thereto, said blade being spaced from saidmeans and casing a distance not less than twice the thickness of thematerial being stapled, said blade having a piercer portion extend- 6. Astapling machine for clinching a staple from the same side from which itis driven, said stapling machine comprising a casing and a magazineextending therefrom, said casing having retractable anvils therein whichextend beyond said casing when said machine is actuated, and arelatively thin Hap lifting blade removably secured to said magazine inspaced parallel relation thereto, said blade being spaced from saidmagazine and casing a distance not less than twice the thickness of thematerial being stapled, said blade having a piercer portion extendingforwardly of the plane of said anvils, said blade having a portion ofreduced widt'h directly beneath said anvils and an elongated bodyportion secured only at the rear portion thereof to said magazine at apoint on said magazine rearwardly and remotely spaced from said anvilsthereby forming a relatively long throat portion.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,136,807 Hullings Apr. 20, 1915 1,173,697 Allan Feb. 29, 1916 1,308,327Blumenthal July 1, 1919 1,512,040 Reed Oct. 21, 1924 1,812,188 Allen`Tune 30, 1931 1,900,683 Allen Mar. 7, 1933 2,158,242 Maynard May 10,1939 2,429,269 Lindstrom Oct. 21, 1947 2,433,155 Peterson Dec. 23, 19472,469,054 Schafroth May 3, 1949

